Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Dual Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 (Jalapa & Estelí)
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo
Size: 5.25 x 52 Robusto
Strength: Full
Price: $11.50
My cigars have had only 1-1/2 months of naked humi time. Clearly, a spoiler alert.
BACKGROUND:
Blender Arsenio Ramos
Regular production
The Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf was originally released in 2021.
From Luxury Cigar Club:
“Aganorsa Leaf is not new to hearty full-bodied cigars, but they have blended what they believe to be their “the boldest expression of Aganorsa’s signature flavor to date.
“This Mexican San Andres wrapped delicacy is bound with two Nicaraguan binder leaves and filled with a mix of Estelí and Jalapa tobacco. Rare Leaf Reserve is limited in natural, and only available to select, top tier retailers. This way, the cigars are available year-round.
“If you are a fan of Aganorsa’s signature flavor, or a fan of flavorful and bold cigars, this is a must try.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The Aganorsa brand does some extraordinary things with the tobacco they farm. Generally, the price points for their cigars are very reasonable considering the high quality of the product.
I use my new PerfecPunch & Stand to open the cap. I’ve gone through a million punches in my lifetime. And all were crap. The crazy thing I learned by using Dr. Rod’s creation is that instead of screwing the punch into the cap…the incredible sharpness of the punch blade allows you to screw the cigar into the blade while holding the punch It slides into the blade like butter. I know it sounds like I’m being a weasel shill but if you’ve read me long enough, you know I don’t go around spewing bullshit about horseshit products or fuck wad cigars. This punch is a game changer. And the years it took for Rod to get his manufacturer to get everything right, I was right there with him going through the frustrations of getting less than perfect prototypes. Rod, besides being a world-famous dentist for his scientific research, is also a mechanical engineer.
I will let you in on something. Rod will ask my opinion on something, and I will respond. He then writes a mile long manifesto telling me why I’m wrong…lol. I just love it.
Don’t forget to get in on the Perfec Smoke Giveaway Contest. It ends on Monday, July 3.
OK. Where was I?
Aromas from the wrapper are gentle and quiet…café au lait, milk chocolate, mild Mexican spices, butterscotch, cedar, and a spectrum of creaminess.
I find it strange that if I stick my schnoz on the bottom half of the cigar, the aromas can be faint. But if I plant my nose near the cap end, the aromas are bold. Go figure.
The stick has the right amount of heft. Construction is excellent. The draw is on the money for this old man’s preferences.
The first puffs are fucking great. Big fat notes of chocolate and nougat. Creaminess crawls up my uvula until it reaches my vagina and performs surgery to tighten the lassie up.
The cigar strength begins at full tilt. Ha. I smoked one yesterday morning as I chose not to review. I still can’t find my toupee. And that time remains a blank spot in my atrophying brain.
Complexity brings its baton down hard. The conductor waves his arms like a crazy man and flavors from all parts of the forest rush to my palate like a ferret on fire. (Disclaimer: Never set your ferret on fire unless you catch it eating your favorite Cheetos).
I’m once again sailing down memory lane as I have Amazon Music on The Buffalo Springfield station. I’m getting a heavy dose of music from that era. Wish I was young again.
First sip of water and the dam breaks…milk chocolate goes dark, caramel goes bat shit crazy, creaminess is vanilla ice cream, black pepper meets poblano pepper, slow smoked brisket, and pretzel logic. See. This is the kind of description that makes mean little bastards on social media go fucking nuts. “He can’t taste all those things.” Yes, I can, you little dip shits. 55 years of cigar smoking develops a sophisticated palate. Show some respect.
The Aganorsa tobacco is just primo. Half an inch in and only 15 minutes of burn time. The cigar gets its own star on Hollywood Blvd. But wait, act now and I will throw in a set of cheap steak knives. The strength is a’ comin’. And I will be reduced to an idiot. (I’m not even going to react to what you’re thinking).
The char line can shave an elephant shrew with muskrat love.
Straight up. This is a superb blend that applies salve on your palate. Doesn’t matter if you are a sophisticated smoker or not…the flavors are not hidden. Of course, a newbie will die the death of a thousand razors when the strength really kicks in at the second half of the cigar. Some smokers just can’t handle hallucinations.
The price point is just fucking ridiculous. After your 15% off at Luxury Cigar Club, the stick is only $9.78. Lawdy.
“96 Tears” by ? and The Mysterians. Silly song from 1966. Few know that Mysterian bassist Mel Schacer went on to play bass in Grand Funk. Loved the man’s style.
Oh no. “In-A-Gadda_ Da-Vida” is playing. Iron Butterfly. The band I was in during high school played it at every gig. Fortunately, our drummer and keys player could handle the long solos.
The burn is super slow. This will be at least a 90-minute tune.
1” burned. 30 minutes. I gotta kill time and try not to fill this space with drek. Like Kevin Carlson said in his contest comment, “Phil’s reviews are all over the place.” I know. It’s why some smokers can’t stand me and why every reviewer hates me. But at least I try to entertain you. So, smokers with the same sense of humor as mine, put up with the pain of reading me. I’ve always tried to channel Groucho. Not very well, mind you…but I’m always trying.
Complexity is climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower. The sheer richness of this blend is stunning. And I’ve only just begun. When Karen Carpenter died in 1983, Hall of Fame drummer Hal Blaine went into seclusion for a week. He was the drummer on all their recordings. Karen and Hal had a mutual love for each other. I tried to call Hal and I’d get an immediate outgoing message saying that he was in mourning and no messages could be left. I felt empathy for the man. He was a sweet guy.
Nuts. I taste nuts. A combo of creamy marzipan and honey glazed walnuts. Stinging my tongue with the added poblano pepper.
I’d better stop rambling as the cigar is going nowhere. 1-3/8” burned, 40 minutes. Be back soon.
Later that day…
Donovan. “Mellow Yellow.” 1967. Honest to God. Every single person in the U.S. tried smoking banana peel. No one got high, just headaches. I was one of them. Did you know that Zep bassist John Paul Jones was the bassist on the record?
The halfway point arrives at one hour.
Strength is a man killer. But my dandies, the blend is smooth as ice.
Transitions move at Ice Age speed. The finish fills my mouth and sinuses. A perfect blend for my tastes. I’m going to Luxury Cigar Club and buy more. At less than $10 with the promo code, this is the deal of the year. No doubt it is a high contender for my year end top 25 list.
I have a new lighter. The S.T. DuPont Ligne 2. I love the dual adjustable soft flames.
Creamy, caramel, café au lait, dark chocolate, black and poblano peppers, Cinnamon buns, cedar, malt, nuts galore, a slight tartness that is a mixture of lemon and lime, smoked brisket, brioche, and ginormous Aganorsa tobacco richness.
Strength is full tilt, but my vision is intact. Smooth.
I bought another fiver. Aganorsa picked out only a select number of online stores that are allowed to sell this cigar. I cannot begin to imagine what another 6 months of humi time will present. This is why I bought more. They will rest uninhibited and in a coma for a long time. My patience will be tested.
But feel free to smoke a stick a month in to get a hint of what a great blend it is due to the passion of the Aganorsa folks.
With every half inch smoked, the blend elevates itself into a dynamic experience that will not disappoint any smoker.
The final smoke time is over 2 hours.
A beautiful way to start my day…even though the Canadian wildfire smoke has made it impossible to open the windows.
You can purchase this cigar from sponsor Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 98
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
